Amid rising discontent over the economy and the Iran war,President Donald Trump'ssecond term approval rating reached a new low in a survey that could be a significant warning for Republicans ahead of the midterm elections.
The NBC News Decision Deskpoll, released April 19, found that 63% of adults disapprove of Trump’s performance as president. That's his lowest mark from the outlet since he retook office in January 2025. Another 37% of adults said they approve of Trump.
The poll was conducted March 30 to April 13 among a national sample of 32,433 adults ages 18 and over. The margin of error is ± 1.8 percentage points.
The downturn in the president's job approval is largely attributable to souring opinions about the state of the nation's economy and the progression of the United States'joint war on Iran, according to the outlet.
President Donald Trump returned to Phoenix to speak at Turning Point USA's "Build the Red Wall" event at Dream City Church on April 17, 2026, ahead of this year's midterm elections.
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Trump speaks in Arizona for Turning Point's 'Build the Red Wall' event
President Donald Trumpreturned to Phoenix to speak at Turning Point USA's "Build the Red Wall" event at Dream City Church on April 17, 2026, ahead of this year's midterm elections.
More:Young Republicans more skeptical of Iran war, dividing Trump base
Other recent polls measured a similar drop led by negative views on the economy and the ongoing war that sprung a widening conflict in the Middle East.
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In the New York Times' daily average of polls, the president's aggregated approval rating sits at 40%, with a majority 56% disapproval number. Recent polling has shown most Americansdisapprove of the Iran war, while unhappiness over the economy and affordability have hounded Trumpfor several months.
As in several polls conducted over the past year, the economy ranked as the number one issue for voters. Twenty-nine percent said it’s the issue that matters most, followed by 24% who said it was threats to democracy.
Less than one-third, 32%, of Americans said in the new poll they approve of Trump’s handling of inflation and the cost of living. Another 68% said they disapprove. A majority of Americans also said in the poll, at 52%, that they "strongly disapprove" of Trump’s handling of the issue. It's a 7-point jump from the last time NBC News Decision Desk asked the question, in August 2025.
On the subject of the Iran war, two-thirds of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the conflict, at 67%. Just one-third, 33%, said they approve. Further, 54% specified they "strongly disapprove," compared to the 19% who said they "strongly approve" of the war.
The survey also found a new low when it comes to the nation's direction. A little over two-thirds, or 67%, of respondents said the United States is on the wrong track. It's a two-point increase from when the pollster asked the same question in their last survey ending in early February. Another 33%, about one-third, said the country is on the right track.
Kathryn Palmer is a politics reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her atkapalmer@usatoday.comand on X @KathrynPlmr. Sign up for her daily politics newsletterhere.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Trump approval polling on economy and Iran war
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